SEOUL (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- He has lectured in European universities and appeared on the cover of a ​British ​magazine​. His book was translated into a dozen languages. He was once a guest on CNN.

Jang Jin-sung is one of the most internationally recognized defectors from North Korea. His ​​2014 memoir, “Dear Leader,” enthralled readers with what he said were firsthand descriptions of a private party held by Kim Jong Il, the former North Korean leader, and claims of what it was like to be one of the few “poet laureates” chosen to write propaganda​ ​about ​​the Kim ​family.

But two women say his heroic tale of escape from the authoritarian country masked a secret. Both have accused Jang of raping them in South Korea after he defected, and they said that he had used his celebrity status to prey on them.

One woman, a North Korean defector, has filed a lawsuit accusing both Jang and one of his associates of rape and other sex crimes. The other woman came forward with allegations this week in interviews with media outlets. She has not filed a formal complaint against Jang, and said her main intention was to show solidarity with the other woman.

Jang, 49, has said he had never raped the North Korean defector and that his relationship with the second woman had been consensual. The associate has also denied the allegations and has countersued the North Korean woman for defamation. Jang has threatened to countersue her as well, and has already sued the television company that first reported on her allegations.

That case is now going through the court. The two lawsuits filed by the North Korean woman are under investigation by the police, which will then decide whether to prosecute. Authorities are also looking into the countersuit by Jang’s associate.

Defectors usually socialize ​within their own tightly knit community, where victims of sexual violence feel pressured to keep silent, said Jeon Su-mi, a lawyer for female defectors who are victims of sex crimes. ​

Celebrity male defectors — former high-ranking officials, survivors of North Korean prison camps, authors and activists, among them — wield enormous influence in this community, Jeon said. Some use their ​status to sexually abuse female defectors, especially ​those who have just arrived.

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